Closure structures



United States Patent M 3,129,327 CLOSURE STRUCTURES Thomas W. .lentges, Grange, Calif., assignor to Cominic M. Cents, Anaheim, Calif. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. M1693 Qlaims. (*Jl. 222-212) This invention pertains to new and improved closure structures and to containers used in combination with these closure structures.

More specifically the present invention pertains to closure structures and containers which are employed together and which may be utilized in transporting fluids such as oil from one location to another and in dispensing oil as may be desired. The closure structures and the containers used in combination with them in accordance with this invention may, however, be employed for other purposes such as for example, in connection with the movement of a solvent from one location to another and the application of the solvent wherever it may be required.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide closure structures for the foregoing purposes which, when used in conjunction with a container, can be employed so as to transport a fluid in virtually any desired manner such as, for example, in the pocket without danger of leakage. Another object of the present invention is to provide closure structures which are employed as indicated in the preceding sentence that can be opened so as to enable oil or other fluids to be accurately dispensed even upon relatively inaccessible areas or locations.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide closure structures as herein described which may be easily and conveniently manufactured and which are capable of being sold for a comparatively nominal consideration. A related object of the present invention is to provide closure structures as herein described which may be easily actuated so as to be either opened or closed as may be desired and which are constructed in such a manner that there is substantially no chance of leakage when these structures are closed.

These and various other objects of the present invention as well as many specific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure structure of this invention used in combination with a container;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of 1G. 1; and

PEG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 illustrating the positions of certain parts of the closure structure shown in the preceding figures when this structure is in an open or dispensing position.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate the operative features of a presently preferred embodiment of this invention. From a careful consideration of this drawing and of the remainder of this specification those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realize that a number of difierent changes or modifications may be made in the closure structure and container illustrated in the drawing through the use of exercise of routine engineering skill or ability. Any such changed or modified structures are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention if they are encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it concerns a closure structure as herein described util'med in combination with a container which is attached to the closure structure so that a top on this closure structure has a normally exposed side and normally enclosed side which is enclosed by the container. In a closure structure of this 3,120,327 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 invention the closure top is provided with a hole which extends between these sides and an internal cavity located around this hole; further the closure top carries a tube which extends from the normally enclosed side of the top into the interior of the container and this tube has a sealed end located remote from the closure top. The closure structure as herein described also includes a dispensing tube slidably mounted within the closure top, and this tube has a sealed end located within the tube which is attached to the top and at least one opening leading into the interior of the tube. This opening is positioned so that when the tube is in a closed position this opening is within the tube carried by the closure top and when it is in an open position this tube is opposite the interior of the cavity within the top. Passages are also provided so as to convey fluid from Within the interior. of the container into this cavity, and sealing means are located at the extremities of the cavity so as to prevent leakage around the dispensing tube.

The actual details of this construction will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the accompanying drawing. Here there is shown a closure structure 1d used in combination with a container 12 so as to provide a complete device capable of being used in holding and in dispensing oil or various other fluids. The particular container 12 illustrated has a shape corresponding to the shape of a conventional cylindrical bottle; preferably it is formed out of a comparatively non-breakable material capable of being deformed during use such as nylon or various other synthetic resins. At the top of the container 12 there is provided an enlarged rim 14 which serves to carry a resilient, spring-like metal band 16 which in turn carries an integrally formed metal resilient arm 18 terminating in a ball 29. This arm 18 is designed so that it can be used in attaching the container 12 to the pocket of an individual in much the manner in which a common fountain pen is carried in the pocket.

Within the interior of the rim lid there are provided threads 22 which mate with corresponding threads (designated by the same numeral in the drawing) on a peripheral skirt 24 forming a part of the closure structure 10. At the top of this skirt 24 there is provided a rim 26 which is integrally formed with the skirt 24. The exterior surface 28 of this rim 26 is preferably knurled or similarly formed so as to facilitate the closure structure it? being screwed into or out of the container 12 during such times as it is necessary to locate a fluid within the interior of this container. The center part of the rim 26 is provided with a cylindrical passage 30 which contains what may be referred to as a rigid top member 32.

This top member 32 has a truncated conical exterior, normally exposed surface 34 tenrninating in a small shoulder as which rests against the exterior of the rim 26. The remainder of the top member 32 is of a cylindrical configuration corresponding in diameter to the interior diameter of the passage 36. This entire top member is secured to the rim .26 as by conventional press-fit techniques or other equivalent procedures or means Well known in the manufacturing of various parts.

Within the portion of the top member 32 located generally within the skirt 24 there is formed within the top member 3-2 a cylindrical cavity 3d. The axis of this cavity 38 is in alignment with the axis of a cylindrical hole which extends from the cavity 38 through the top member 32 to the exposed surface 34 generally at the center of this exposed surface. Within the interior of the cavity 38 there are located elastomeric sealing washers 42 which are preferably iormed of a material such as neoprene which is substantially unaffected by oils or many conventional solvents. These sealing washers 42 are held apart by means of a rigid cylindrical spacer 44 which fits closely against the interior of the cavity 38 and which has an interior surface 46 which is of larger diameter than the diameter of the hole 45. Preferably the diameters of the openings :3 in the washers 42 are smaller than the diameter of this same hole 40.

In the closure structure It) an elongated dispensing tube 50 is located so as to extend through the interiors of the sealing washers 42 and through the interior of the spacer 44 and out of the hole 40. This dispensing tube 59 preferably corresponds in diameter to the diameter of the hole 40 and is slidable within the hole 40. With this relationship of diameters the openings 48 within the sealing washers 42 resiliently engage the exterior of the dispensing tube 50 so as to form a seal with respect to this tube at each of the ends of the spacer 44 at all times.

In order to make this sealing action as effective as possible it is preferred to close over the extremity of the cavity 38 by means of a washer-shaped rigid plate 52 having a centrally located opening 54 formed in it which corresponds in diameter of the hole 4-0. This plate 52 normally rests against a small shoulder 56 formed adjacent to an extremity of the cavity 38 and is held in place by means of a bent-over flange 58 on the top member 32. With this construction the flange 53 exerts pres sure upon the plate 52 which in turn causes forces to be applied to the sealing washers (2 so as to expand these sealing washers in such a manner that a satisfactory seal is obtained not only around the exterior of the dispensing tube 50 but with respect to the interior of the cavity 38 by each of these sealing washers.

The plate 52 preferably carries a cylindrical flange 60 which is symmetrically disposed about the opening 54 in it and which is spaced from this opening. This flange 60 holds an extremity of another tube 62 so that this tube extends from the top member 32 in alignment with the hole 40. This other tube 62 is preferably sealed with respect to the flange 6G by means of solder 64 or other equivalent means. The extremity of the other tube 62 remote from the top member 32 is similarly sealed by a plug 66.

The diameter of this other tube 62 is larger in diameter than the opening 54 and of the dispensing tube 50 so that a flattened, enlarged closed end 68 on the dispensing tube 50 is capable of fitting within this other tube 62 and sliding within it. Adjacent to but spaced from this end 68 at least one hole 70 is provided in the dispensing tube 50. This hole 70 is located so that when the dispensing tube 50 is pulled so that the end 68 abuts against the plate 52 as shown in FIG. 3 the hole 70 is located approximately midway along the length of the spacer 44 between the sealing washers 42.

In this position the hole 70 is in fluid communication with the interior of the spacer 44. The interior of the spacer 44 is in turn in fluid communication with the interior of the container 12 through passages 72 formed in the spacer 44 and in the top member 32. In these two passages 72 they need not be in exact alignment with one another; if they are not in exact alignment a peripheral groove 74 on the spacer 44 serves to place these passages 72 in communication so as to enable fluid to enter into the interior of the spacer 44.

It will be noted that the exterior of the top member 32 generally within the skirt 24 is spaced from this skirt so as to allow fluid to flow into the passages 72. If desired, the surface of the top member 32 which is spaced from and within the skirt 24 may be referred to as a normally enclosed surface.

During the use of this closure structure the dispensing tube 50 is normally located as shown in FIG. 2 as the closure structure It} and the container 12 are being trans ported from one location to another. In this position the hole 70 is located within the interior of the other tube 62. Since the interior of this other tube 62 is sealed from the interior of the container 12 there is no danger of fluid flowing into the hole out through the dispensing tube 50. In this closed position as indicated in FIG. 2 there is substantially no danger of the dispensing tube 50 becoming dislodged or accidentally moved or the like so as to move the hole 7% to a position where fluid can flow and into and through the dispensing tube 50. This is particularly the case since the dispensing tube 50 is resiliently engaged by the Washers 42.

When it is desired to use the closure structure 10 so as to dispense whatever material such as oil which may be within the container 12 the exposed surface of the dispensing tube 50 is engaged by the hand and pulled so as to overcome the friction against movement as exerted by sealing washers 42 to a position in which the end 68 abuts against the plate 52. At this point the interior of the dispensing tube 5-9 is in fluid communication with the interior of the container 12. If this container 12 contains oil, such oil may then be dispensed through the dispensing tube 5% by simply squeezing upon the container 12.

From a consideration of the foregoing those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realize that a closure structure as herein described is a comparatively simple, effective device which may be safely transported in the pocket of an individual and which is always available for use when so transported. It will be further realized that because of the particular type of dispensing tube structure employed in this closure structure 10 that this structure may be used for applying oil or other fluids in relatively inaccessible locations when desired.

Because of the nature of this invention and the fact that a number of modifications may be made in the precise structure shown without departing from the basic features of this invention, this invention is to be considered as being limited solely by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A closure structure for use in dispensing a fluid which includes:

a closure top, said closure top including means for slidably holding a dispensing tube formed therein and a cavity located at one extremity of said means for holding the dispensing tube;

the dispensing tube slidably disposed within said means for holding the same, said dispensing tube extending through said closure top and said cavity, the end of said dispensing tube adjacent to said cavity being closed and having at least one opening formed therein spaced from but located adjacent to said closure end;

means for forming a seal around said closed end of said dispensing tube with respect to said closure top, said means enclosing said closed end of said dispensing tube;

sealing means located within each of the ends of said cavity around said dispensing tube and forming a seal between said dispensing tube and the interior of said cavity;

passage means for permitting the flow of fluid into the interior of said cavity formed in said closure p,

said opening in said dispensing tube being located so as to be sealed from the interior of said cavity in one position and so as to be exposed to the interior of said cavity in another position; and

means for attaching said closure structure to a container.

2. A closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said closure structure comprises a threaded skirt attached to said closure top, and wherein said threaded skirt is spaced from said passage means in said closure top.

3. A combined closure structure and container for use in dispensing a fluid which includes:

a closure top, said closure top including means for slidably holding a dispensing tube formed therein and a cavity located at one extremity of said means for holding the dispensing tube;

the dispensing tube slidably disposed within said means for holding the same, said dispensing tube extending through said closure top and said cavity, the end of said dispensing lllllbfl adjacent to said cavity being closed and having at least one opening formed therein spaced from but located adjacent to said closure end;

means for forming a seal around said closed end of said dispensing. tube with respect to said closure top, said means enclosing said closed end of said dispensing tube;

sealing means located within each of the ends of said cavity around said dispensing tube and forming a seal between said dispensing tube and the interior of said cavity;

passage means for permitting the flow of fluid into the interior of said cavity formed in said closure top,

said opening in said dispensing tube being located so as to be sealed from the interior of said cavity in one position and so as to be exposed to the interior of said cavity in another position; and

a container secured to said closure top, the interior of said container being open to said passage means.

4. A combined closure structure and container [for use in dispensing a fluid as. defined in claim 3 wherein said container is flexible.

5. A closure structure for use in dispensing a fluid which includes:

a closure top having a normally exposed side and a normally enclosed side and having a hole of uniform cross-sectional configuration extending from said exposed side, said closure top also having an internal cavity formed therein in communication with said hole and an opening leading from the external surface of said normally enclosed side into the interior of said cavity between the ends thereof;

a tube attached to said normally enclosed side so as to extend therefrom, one end of said tube being open to the interior of said cavity, .the other end of said tube remote from said closure top being closed, said tube being aligned with said hole in said closure tube;

a dispensing tube located so as to extend through said hole, said cavity and into said first mentioned tube, the end of said dispensing tube within said first mentioned tube being closed, said dispensing tube having an opening formed therein located adjacent to said closed end of said dispensing tube;

a seal member positioned within said cavity on each side of said opening leading into the interior of said cavity, said seal members resiliently engaging the exterior of said dispensing tube and the interior of said cavity so as to form seals preventing the flow of fluid around said dispensing tube through said hole and into the interior of said first mentioned tube; and

means for attaching said closure structure to a container attached to said closure top and spaced from said normally enclosed side so as to permit fluid to how through said opening leading into the interior of said cavity when said closure structure is attached to a container. 

1. A CLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR USE IN DISPENSING A FLUID WHICH INCLUDES: A CLOSURE TOP, SAID CLOSURE TOP INCLUDING MEANS FOR SLIDABLY HOLDING A DISPENSING TUBE FORMED THEREIN AND A CAVITY LOCATED AT ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING THE DISPENSING TUBE; THE DISPENSING TUBE SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING THE SAME, SAID DISPENSING TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CLOSURE TOP AND SAID CAVITY, THE END OF SAID DISPENSING TUBE ADJACENT TO SAID CAVITY BEING CLOSED AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING FORMED THEREIN SPACED FROM BUT LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID CLOSURE END; 